Eric F. Ross

Calling it a major “investment” in its future, the Golda Och Academy announced a $17.2 million bequest from the estate of the late philanthropist Eric F. Ross.

Ross, who died in September 2010 at the age of 91, was a major supporter of the Conservative day school. Its upper school campus in West Orange, N.J. is named in his honor in recognition of a donation he made that led to the opening of the campus in 1991.

The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum received a gift of $17.2 million from the estate of Eric F. Ross. It is the largest single gift to the institution. Eric and his late wife, Lore, both of whom were refugees from Nazi Germany, donated more than $12 million to the institution during their lifetimes. In total, they have contributed more than $30 million to the Museum.